"From award-winning and USA Today bestselling author Kosoko Jackson comes his adult speculative debut, a stand-alone novel blending time travel and globe-hopping adventure, art history, and dark fantasy about magical paintings and the lengths people will go to collect them, destroy them…or be destroyed.

A picture is worth a thousand nightmares.

Art has always been an escape for struggling painter Lewis Dixon. But other than his mom, who has recently passed away, no one has ever praised his work. If he is being honest, there's really no one in his life. So he is shocked when the British Museum shows an unusual interest in his art. This is his chance to show the world what he's capable of…he just has no idea that he might also be saving the world at the same time.

As Lewis soon learns, he has not been invited to participate in a curated show, but rather a test: to see if the fugue-like exhilaration he experiences when painting is actually magic, a power that allows him to enter nine very special paintings - paintings made by his great-grandfather. Spread across the globe, these paintings have unbelievable eldritch abilities…and not necessarily beneficial ones. In terms of power, these are the most valuable works of art in the world, and there are those out there who would do anything to possess just one.

And Lewis, upon passing the test, has been asked to destroy them all.

Partnered with an alluring agent in museum's employ, Noah Rao, Lewis must travel to Japan, Australia, Nigeria - and the past - plunging himself into a world of black markets, gothic magic, ancient history, and cursed objects to save those unlucky enough to call any of the paintings their own - or to free the world from those who would misuse the power of the paintings. In doing so, he will need to discover if he has what it takes to truly be an artist, the confidence to finally open himself up to someone who could give his lonely life meaning, and the strength to enter and navigate a reality where magic is everywhere."

I have always been terrified of being trapped in a painting since I read The Witches.

I feel like I was misled by this book. It’s not horror by any stretch, though I suppose there are a handful of horror elements scattered through (mostly in the first half). Instead it’s a fantasy book set mostly in the modern world with some of the most hand-wavey magic I’ve ever read. Now some books can get away with really hand-wavey magic; usually in those cases, magic is just a means to accomplish the plot, but in The Macabre, the magic is essential because the supposed balance of the universe (which really only applies to death apparently because everything else is apparently without any consequence) is how magic worked. But we never once saw magical consequences, and the spells and runes are never explained - though there’s an interesting mix of various different languages and some hand gestures? And our MC Lewis somehow in the midst of all the trauma and being tortured and being yanked around the world finds time to read really advanced magic theory books?

A lot of the worldbuilding and character development seem to happen off-page. Lewis will be bargaining with someone and it’ll be like “oh by the way I read a dossier on your entire life and know a lot about you” but when? How? Where did you get it? And then he still asks questions that would have been in any dossier about that person.

The villains were cartoonish and didn’t really act in their own best interests. One I think made sense in the long run once we got some backstory, but the other… well, their end goal would most likely hurt themself pretty much the maximum amount of any hurt.

Even though we were in his head, Lewis felt very distant. I felt like I never knew what he was going to do in any situation. He would frequently insist that whatever action he took was the only choice, but I couldn’t follow the logic that led him there. It felt like we as the reader were always missing key information but the plot did not wait for an explanation.

The Macabre is Kosoko Jackson's debut adult novel. It is a plot-driven fantasy, with horror elements, that has high stakes. We follow Lewis Dixon, who is caught by surprise when the British Museum invites him to curate a show. They also want him to help destroy 10 paintings his great grandfather created over 100 years ago. Horror befalls those who own the paintings so he needs to find them all and without delay. The Macabre doesn’t dive too deeply into the mechanics of its magic system so don't expect to completely understand why and how everything is happening. The novel instead propels the events with action, revenge and moments of intensity. Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC. You can check this out when it publishes September 09, 2025!

The premise of the book is basically this: there are magical factions in the world who are vying for control of magical objects as well as people with magic in their bloodlines. Members refer to themselves as Casters. The book details two of these factions as they kill, steal and spy on each other in attempt to gain the upper hand. The Macabre are a group of magical paintings done by our main character Lewis's ancestor. Thus both factions need Lewis to gain control of these morose paintings.

First can we talk about this cover. As soon as the Macabre painting was described, I wanted to see it. Outstanding work recreating the painting. It's very eye-catching and sets the mood for this novel appropriately. If it's not already obvious, I love the unique magic system and premise as well. They are different than expected and reminds me a bit of the 1988 movie Waxwork where people accidentally fall into the scene or sections of Graham Masterton's book Prey with the witch's painting. From page 1, Kosoko Jackson produces an impressive amount of unease in this story. The atmosphere that main character Lewis finds himself in reflects his own confusion and dread so well that the reader feels it easily throughout. The writing style is very descriptive but this didn't put me off at all. Instead it made me feel more in sync with the artist main character Lewis Dixon. It made sense to me considering his chapters include a lot his thoughts.

The pacing of the book overall is slow but starts out fast and also like Lewis, dumps the reader into the thick of the plot immediately with very little explanation. Ironically, embedded in Lewis's chapters is an extreme amount of his internal dialogue, which slows those chapters dramatically. The combo is a bit of whiplash honestly. Different chapters switch between Lewis and Cassandra's point of view. The actual world building is very simple, think Dresden Files, but I liked it.

Strict Horror readers may end up being disappointed. It's definitely more fantasy with horror elements. I can see how some readers feel catfished by the "macabre" cover but as a fantasy fan too I liked that aspect of it. If you enjoy both genres or urban fantasy generally give The Macabre a try.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Prose: descriptive
Pacing: inconsistent
Scary: uncanny
Gore: yes
Character Development:
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Atmosphere:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5⭐️/5 rounding up

This was my first dive into the horror genre after being scarred as a kid by Stephen King (definitely picked that bad boy up way too early in life and threw it in a drawer after 3 chapters never to be seen again haha).

That being said I like that the horror aspect was not overly done or on every page. Some reviews mentioned that they wish there was more horror- however the entire book had a tone of darkness and animosity. So I liked having that and then spurts of horror related details woven in strategically that enriched the overall horror-esque tone. The fantasy element was pretty well done as well- however I wish the explanation we got at the end about the magic system, we got more hints of or had it explained to us in the beginning. This is due to the fact that the pace was much slower than a typical fantasy book and I think it wouldve drawn more readers into the story with it at the jump, rather than like a reward for getting to the end. For me, this book took numerous sittings to finish- and not because I wasnt enjoying the story, but because the pace was slower than what I typically enjoy.

Stemming from the note about pace- this is also like a road trip trope which I normally LOATHE. But with this storyline I actually enjoyed it because K. Jackson thoroughly illustrated each scene they were in and had a full experience occur at each place that eventually all had purpose for the ending. Not a lot of road trip tropes are detailed like this in my eyes, so I mark this as a job well done there!

Overall I enjoyed this book and based on the epilogue there could be book 2 which I’m excited to read if it’s a thing!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, of which I have given here my full and honest review.

This book wasn't what I expected it to be. The marketing led me to believe I was picking up a horror novel, and while there were elements of this, I would consider this to be more of a fantasy novel. That said, Kosoko Jackson has evolved as a writer since his debut. Phenomenal world building and powerful story telling. I'll be thinking about this once for a while!

this was IMPOSSIBLE to follow. the plotting was all over the place, the magic was confusing, and the characters were not distinct. it just made no sense in any number of ways. i LOVE art and i've previously enjoyed books about art and magic and colonialism but this was just so discombobulated, i felt like i couldn't even really enjoy it.

it made no sense for cassandra to be evil and then suddenly not evil! i could further extend that into the idea that none of the women here were well written but it would distract from the fact that the men were also not well written. noah and lewis went from vaguely disliking each other to all encompassing love and i have no idea when or how it happened.

This one feels like stepping into a cursed gallery where every frame hums with secrets. It’s weird, smart, and unsettling in the best way…. a moody fever dream of a fantasy that plays with legacy, obsession, and the cost of creation.

From page one, you’re pulled into this eerie, atmospheric world where art doesn’t just imitate life, it alters it. The story blends horror and magic with a modern lens, wrapped in velvet-draped, museum-core aesthetics. Think: flickering candlelight, whispered warnings, impossible doors, and a magic system that feels like it’s stitched together with oil paint, old bones, and grief.

The pacing has a slow-burn unravel that works because of the creeping dread, and the writing doesn’t shy away from getting dark. There’s this undercurrent of inevitability…. like once you start the story, you’ve already stepped too close to the canvas. It explores power, responsibility, and that classic “am I losing my mind or is this real?” spiral in a way that feels raw and grounded. And yes, there’s chemistry and tension that adds a little heat to the haunted.

I docked a star only because I craved a deeper emotional bite in a few key moments….but honestly? The originality, the vibes, the horror laced through every brushstroke….Chef’s kiss. It’s the kind of book you want to read with a candle burning, music low, and your back definitely not to the wall.

Thank you Net Galley, Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC.

I actually really liked this book from beginning to end. The story is about a series of paintings that have been imbued with magic that is dangerous to anyone that comes in contact with them. Intriguing...

The execution is fun and I love the horror genre, so I was already all in. Bonus points for diverse characters. Our main character is Lewis Dixon, a Black gay man from Baltimore, who is a descendant of the paintings' creator. It is Lewis who is tasked by the British Museum to help stop these paintings. We follow his perspective throughout the book (as well as Cassandra who works only for herself).

Our other players are Noah Rao, a British Indian agent of The Crown (and our male love interest); Evangeline Thompson, a British Nigerian who is the leading the charge; Cassandra, a free agent looking to destroy the paintings and free herself; and Akana, an agent working for Japan. Special shout out to Abernathy, a sentient safe house. And let me not forget Edgar, the reason we're here in the first place.

We have a slow burn romance, we have spooky shit, we have a dangerous adventure, we have ulterior motives, we have multiple different cultures, multiple locations, interesting back stories...and I'm pretty sure we're in for a sequel? Please say yes.

Predicting This Will Be A # 1 Bestseller! NetGalley/Harper Collin’s ARC

At 37% I was well past the point of being drawn into this Dark Fantasy novel.
Kosoko Jackson’s debut adult novel will be one to watch for as it’s released in September of this year, 2025.

Dealing with cursed antiquities, a unique magic system that’s used for good and bad, corrupt and evil at times in the wrong hands, yet involving some that have a special connection only obtained through a rare direct descendant that has a strong desire to take on the world and help rid it of the corrupt ones, along with the art world, the British Museum, artists, agents, and many more supporting cast members, with all the prognostic and antagonistic elements needed to keep you engaged.

Up to this point, this book had everything to keep me happily ensconced under AC during a brutal heatwave passing through the Midwest at the time. I felt like the heatwave was taking place more on the pages of this novel than they were outside! Especially after the agents visit to Perth, and the scene which unfolds there, goes horribly wrong. It only gets more wicked, in a tantalizing way, in some of the events to follow.

As Jackson brings you slowly along into one scene, in a sort of melodic pastoral experience, he ramps it up to a blistering awakening, and then slowly walks you back down the other side.
It’s not poetic in written style, but I can’t quite put my brain cells on the correct word to describe it. His writing for sure is magical in the way he streams it together, articulate in a sense that provides the reader with a raw, and energetic extravaganza.

I am looking forward to seeing what else he produces in his foray toward the adult targeted audience.

I don’t consider this a spoiler, but I have a strong sense this story will be continued in at least 1, possibly 2, more books. That’s something to look forward to as well. Even with that thought, this one is well wrapped up, and gives you a sense of completeness to the storyline, while still expanding out on the actual plot involved.

Keep an eye out for this release. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it shoot to the top of the charts in no time!

Note: I received early access from NetGalley and the publisher HarperCollins, of this manuscript, and have at my own discretion and opinion, chosen to post a review.

Kosoko Jackson: The Macabre (Deluxe Limited Edition)
Avon and Harper Voyager
Advance copy via Netgalley
Publication date September 8, 2025
ISBN 978-0-06-339446-9

I was provided an early uncorrected e-proof for the text, so cannot comment on the additional features provided in the Deluxe Limited Edition. I encountered very few writing errors within the text.

By way of introduction, I read early publicity on The Macabre and believed that the story fit somewhere within the Horror category. After reading the uncorrected e-proof, I double checked my sources to discover that the text was classified as Dark Fantasy. Before considering my reactions to the book, I should identify my reading interests, which at least within the fiction arena center primarily on literary fiction, crime and thriller books, and science fiction/fantasy. Horror that fits within any of the above areas is great. My reactions to The Macabre are built on my early response to the text: why does Alice in Wonderland pop up so often in my thoughts as well as the author’s commentary? While I suspect that Alice and her companions might operate under a dark fantasy label, the current text seems aligned as well within the parameters of a romance novel ladened with violent themes. Quick note: I read very few books that match my assumptions about romance novels so please accept my apology if I am clueless about their boundaries. In addition, another confession: I seldom enjoy reading novels that bounce back in time and merge multiple character perspectives. However, in The Macabre, the author’s efforts to plunge back and forth in time and across characters actually worked for me. What did not work was the dialogue among many of the characters, especially when centered on the lead, Lewis Dixon. When the back-and-forth squabbling was attached to insights into a character’s thought process, my commitment to the content began to waver. Put simply, too much of the dialogue verged on what I would consider unworthy of the overall text’s commitment to exploring an alternative universe in which magic influenced the lives of many.

Overall rating: three stars
Recommended for readers who enjoy science fiction/fantasy themes centered on magic and art.

This book hits every point you hope it would! Magic. Check. Interesting and heartfelt characters. Check. EVIL PAINTINGS! DOUBLE CHECK!

This is my first book written by this author, and it was a slam dunk on all fronts! I couldn't put it down. Read the whole story in two days, and need more of this world! Everything about it was so interesting and creative. Think, if Dorian Gray had multiple evil paintings instead of just the one. The author took great care in being overly detailed about the paintings so that me, the reader, can easily visualize all of them, and all their MACABRE details.

I reallyyyyy wanted to love this book! I wanted support a Black author in their adult debut but the writing style did not work for me at all. I wish that the first part of the book dodged a bit deeper into Lewis and his family dynamic before jumping right into the plot. The leap from YA to adult is probably really difficult but this read very YA and I felt like the author was holding my hand the whole time

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Voyager, and author Kosoko Jackson for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.
* Premise - The Picture of Dorian Gray, but on steroids, transported to the 21st century, and taking its revenge on unwitting passersby. Fun, globe-and-time-traveling-adventure with a well-executed magic system based around art, energy, and emotion.
* Prose - Artsy painty descriptors of everything - great use of voice as characterization. Also, some really excellent, evocative prose scattered throughout - the type of quotes you put over a beautiful pinterest background and rake in the likes. When seeing through the POV of someone without a passion for art, that descriptive voice changes. It’s a really nice touch.
* Characters - Lewis is introduced through the death of his mother where he feels guilty for missing his last chance to spend time with her, instantly building some empathy with the reader. He is a hard-working teacher, starving artist, and dreamer with hints at a hard/poor upbringing. An underdog in every sense of the word.
* Noah, on the other hand, has a posh background from a wealthy family, a powerful training in magic, and absolutely no moral quandaries with doing the hard thing for the greater good. This created compelling conflict between them when Lewis wants to save everyone he meets, while Noah is laser focused on the mission at hand, the one thing he can try to control.
* Evangeline acts as an obstacle for Lewis and the plot in more than one way, but I have to say I found myself agreeing with her more than once.
* Cassandra is a bit of a mess - a 19th century nun cursed with immortality and given access to magic would, I don’t know, possibly consider healing people or using her miraculous power to spread her faith? Instead she becomes a murderer because of “men.”
* Akana feels like an attempt at comedic relief mixed with a stereotype of asian mysticism, causing her to fail at both.
* The negative - There were more than a few mistakes in grammar, things that could have been proofread more carefully, etc that took me off the page more than once. Lots of backstory is just outright stated rather than revealed through scenes, dialogue, and characterization.
* I’ll also add that this work takes art VERY seriously. It was interesting at first as a way to get to know Lewis better, but at times it came off as way too preachy - entire pages of internal monologue about the difference in superiority between people who make art vs people who just enjoy it. It was elitist, high-brow, and came off as the author’s projections, not the characters.
* SPOILER HERE - about a third of the way through the book, a character loses a hand, but regains the function of it through magic. This type of thing always feels strange when it comes to ableism and how disabilities are treated in stories.
* The first third of the book or so had great pacing. For me personally, it seemed to fall off after they found the 3rd Macabre. I couldn’t help but feel I was being dragged through the events of the plot after that rather than enjoying the journey.
* Romance building between Lewis and Noah was well done - antagonistic, then the beginning of mutual respect, an opportunity where one learns from the other then vice versa, a bold move that forces them to spend more time together, and a plot-relevant ploy where they pretend to be dating at a party (which of course confuses feelings even further). Then they are separated for plot reasons, right after they are put in mortal danger and realize they care for one another. Happily ever after felt pretty earned.

This book took me awhile to get into as the writing style is very descriptive. More style over substance until you get to the middle section, where the pace picks up a bit.

Billed as an adult dark fantasy/horror novel infused with art, magic, and global intrigue, we first meet Lewis, a struggling painter whose uncanny ability to recreate one of his great-grandfather’s eerie artworks draws the attention of the British Museum. His grandfather's paintings have power, some for good, but many not so much, and if they fall into the wrong hands, destruction would rule. Recruited to explore and destroy nine magical, cursed paintings, Lewis embarks on a global quest alongside the trusty museum agent Noah Rao, delving into gothic magic, ancestral secrets, and the dangerous intersection of art and the supernatural.

Each of his grandfather's paintings has a special power over the world, that Lewis can enter and manipulate. Of course many other people want access to these paintings so he's soon thrust into the black market underground of the art world.

I found the concept fascinating as Lewis has the ability to enter and manipulate the paintings, using them to travel to different parts of the world and times. The author does a great job world building and infusing magical realism into each painting, but the character development was a bit lacking. It reminded me of 'The Picture of Dorian Gray', where a painting has power over a person.

It was a tedious read at times that could have used better editing, but a fascinating concept.

This book actually scared me! Something about the inanimate containing horrors that affect the "real world" really got to me. What a darkly mysterious examination of one man's personal traumas. Consider me thoroughly unsettled, and reaching again and again for queer horror.

The Macabre is a dark horror fantasy with a magical twist that I wasn’t expecting. I’m not a big fan of horror but after reading the synopsis for this one I knew I wanted to check it out and I’m glad I did. If you’re a fan of art and magic you should pick this one up. Especially if you’re hesitant about horror.

Generally, this little queer gothic horror moment was enjoyable! The characters were well-written, plot was an interesting concept, and was an enjoyable magic system. A very fun read! Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC :)

The horror atmosphere with this was so good! I liked another horror book by this author and this lived up to the hype. It has a gothic horror vibe mixed with fantasy elements.

I really enjoyed the world building in this book and how the author showed the magic system. It wasn’t an info dump but rather something that slowly shared.

Having said that it took me to the 28% to actually understand what was happening. The writing while beautifully done is a bit tricky to understand right away. A few moments the characters came off only knowing the bare minimum about them. It didn’t feel like there was a connection.

Overall, I think this was more fantasy than horror but it still developed an interesting plot with and eerie atmosphere.

Plot: 9/10
Pace: 6/10
Ending: 8/10
Characters: 6/10
Enjoyability: 8/10
Writing Style: 6/10
Would I Recommend? Yes
Favorite Character: Lewis

Favorite Quote: ❝ But quickly, she discovered: If she was going to drench this world in blood and atone for her own sins to claw through the mud and find that piece of her soul that had been lost so many years ago, she would have to become proactive. ❞

I feel like this book started off really strongly and then devolved. The first half was really solid- the premise was laid out in an interesting way, the pacing felt organic, and the way the different forms of magic were described were very cool. After it got the second half I felt like the book changed somehow, at certain points it felt too slow and then at others it felt too fast. I feel like the last 2 chapters especially needed to be given more page time because the resolution was incredibly quick.